“ You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. ” – César Chávez, UFW

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NATION’S LARGEST LATINX CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION RESPONDS TO THE ARREST OF ONE OF THE MEN WHO ASSAULTED HIM

PRESENTE’S ED, MATT NELSON, WAS ATTACKED WHILE FILMING A JOGGER WHO ABUSED A HOMELESS MAN

June 13, 2018

Statement from Matt Nelson, Executive Director, Presente.org:

“First, I want to say thank you to the many people who came forward to support and help me recover from the attack — and to prepare me for the work ahead. I’m relieved that one of the men who robbed and assaulted me (Henry Sintay) has been taken into custody. He should be held accountable for his actions, including his abuse of our homeless neighbor (Drew). His arrest was the result of wide-scale community participation, driven by an incredible commitment to the well-being of all of Oakland’s residents. While what happened to me was horrible, it does not begin to compare with the daily mistreatment of our neighbors who are unhoused, homeless, or unsheltered.

“I believe that housing is a human right and I am deeply concerned with our unrelenting housing crisis. We must address the impact of growing inequality in the Bay Area in which we have so many of our neighbors, families, and children who are homeless or living in unstable conditions. Families working multiple jobs living couch-to-couch, thousands living in uninhabitable conditions or in vehicles, and anyone worried that next month they could be evicted or face foreclosure should not remain under constant threat of losing their housing.

“Yesterday, millions of people celebrated Oakland’s championship #Warriors basketball team, and if Oakland can bring home 3 championships in 4 years, we should be able to house everyone who needs shelter. Oakland can be a brilliant example of a dignified place to live for everyone, but only if we make it that way.”

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With more than 500,000 member-volunteers, Presente.org is the nation’s largest online Latinx organizing group; advancing social justice with technology, media, and culture.